Bowling game



Jan. 7, 1947. C D, CURTIS ETAL 2,413,749

BOWLING GAME Filed Oct. l'l, 1945 aten'tecll jan. 7, 1947 BOWLING GAME Clarence D. Curtis and Don P. Gralin, Hattiesburg, Miss.

Application October 11, 1943, Serial No. 505,742

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to game devices.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a bowling game which is simple, easy and inexpensive to construct, which is so arranged that the bowling pins are located adjacent the starting position to be accessible for setting up by the player himself, and which affords ample opportunity for the development of individual skill so that it prolongs and retains the interest of the player.

It is also an object to provide such a game in which the ball is directed in free travel toward a deecting and turning guide which is provided with a movable part that is varably deflected by the force of the ball so that the direction of return of the ball toward the pins may be controlled by the degree of force with which the ball is initially thrown.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from` the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the game device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view substantially onl the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a broken cross sectional view on a larger 'scale lookingl toward the guide construction at the remote end of the alley;

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view with the top cover removed and `also showing the construction of the xed and movable portions of the guide;

Fig. 6 is a detailed plan view of the xed guide element; and

Fig. 7is a detailed plan view of the movable guide element.

Referring to the drawing which discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a main frame I to which are pivotally secured the legs Il so that upon foldingthe legs inwardly the entire structure may be collapsed to a flat position for ready transport and packing. When set up the legs engage against fixed stops I 2 to thereby provide a rm and substantial support for the device.

The iloor of the allays is provided by wood pieces l which may be suitably made up of pine ooring of convenient size, and above which there is positioned a layer of linoleum felt I6, serving as a support for a bottom sheet I 1 of compressed wood such as Masonite or the like, such material being preferred because of its smooth surface characteristics, its resistance to wear and because it is little affected by moisture. y

The alley space is divided into a main alley shown at 20 occupying the major part of the width, and a starting alley 2| and extending substantially parallel thereto and located at one side thereof. The alleys are separated by a partition 22 which extends from the starting position toward the remote end, leaving sucient space in the starting alley to provide for free throw of the ball through the latter space, the ball being represented on its proper scale at 23.

The pin space in the main alley is located adjacent the starting end or players position so that it is accessible for the player himself. As shown the space may be marked with suitable indexing.

spots 25 showing the positions for the pins. Immediately to the rear of the pin space the table is formed with a pit 26 into Which the balls and the pins may fall when they are hit. The space is closed by an upstanding wall 21 so that the balls and pins are properly retained in this pit and thus immediately accessible to the player for resetting.

Means are provided at the remote end of the alleys for turning and deecting the ball in a substantially horizonta1 plane so that when thrown up the starting alley it returns in the main alley in a direction toward the pins. This means embodies a construction of guide for receiving the ball as it comes from the starting alley and gradually and progressively deilecting the same in a horizontal plane, ultimately reversing its direction and causing its return toward the pins. Thisconstruction comprises a plurality of spaced strips 30 which are of variable length, and which stand lengthwise against the remote end of the alley and forward ends projecting forward by variable amounts. On the upper surface of the numbers 30 there is positioned the initial or fixed guide element shown at 32. This element is formed with an arcuately curved guide face 33, the shape of the face being such as to provide initially a very slight curvature with the curvature progressively increasing so that the ball is gradually and progressively turned in direction as it passes thereover. The guide portion 32 may be conveniently supported on the strips 33 by mean-s of nailing or glueing the same thereto.

The guide also incorporates a nal or movable portion 35. This portion is of less arcuate length than the xed portion, but has a shorter radius of curvature to provide for imparting a substantially equal deflection to the ball. It will be clear from Fig. 5 that the fixed guide 32 provides for imparting a deflection to the ball of the order of 90, while the remaining portion of the guide imparts the additional deflection to the ball, representing approximately the same or an even greater angular deflection.

Movable guide portion 35 is hingedly connected to the fixed guide portion 32 by means of hinge 31 fastened. to the adjacent ends of the two guides, the hingeA pin being preferably recessedr below the outer surface of the guides so that it will not objectionably obstruct the passage of the ball. At its opposite end, movable guide portion 35 is supported by a strip 38 which carries a pair of spaced contact members 39 thereon which are adapted to slide over thesurfac'e 'oflthe' alley. Suitable elements for this purposev are metal glides of the chair leg type.

The movable guide element 35 is arranged to be resiliently supported so as to be variably de'- flected in response to theenergy with which it is engaged bythe ball. For thisv purpose; a tensions` spring 40 is fastenedto thelrear, of; the guide 35- adjacent the hinge 31, the other end. being fastenedstoaxed part of the'A frame. A stop 4l"is providedon the frame for limiting the forward travel of the guide under the actionrof the spring. Itwillbe seen that with the` structure thus de'- scribed, the entire guide structureincluding the xed and movable parts fisraised .above` the levelv of thealley.l and issolocated. that its center is substantially opposite the .centerE of the ball;

Inxorderto provide a .smooth continuous cover-- ing against .which vthe ball may engage, astripof fabric issecured .to thel endof the movable guide asvshown at 45; the fabric `extendinga'cross the. hinge connection, over the fiX'edguide andalon'g the adjacent sideoflthe starting alley, being preferably llooped. over .the outer 'end o'ftheliframe and fastened` tothe. outside as shown at 46: This forms asmooth'iand continuous. engaging surface for theball whereveitit may strike the .wallofthe alley or guide members.'`

In order to 'prevent the possi-bleescap'e ofth'e' ball over the top of the alley, a top cover 'member 50is providedat .the remote endof thea-lleyg such cover. being-YV shaped. ini general conformity "withz thefshape of .the guide members;N It iis `:positionedabove the level of :theY guide :members asfshown ini Fig..l 4; .and above the normal4 Alevel i of! the `balls whenzthey are onthelfloor'ofthe alley. It'prefere ably. overhangs the-guide members :aushortfdis-l tance ras indicated. in dotted' linesin` Fig.' 1,` the overhang 55| assuring. against thegballl jumpingout of .the alley regardless ofthe force with which it Lis thrown.

In the playing of fthe game the :player manually?- throws the ball'into lthe starting alley with-a free `throw since-the alleyv4 is substantially'wider thanthe` diameterof the-'ball'. The-ballfthenfengages the guide at azpoint 'dependingupon the'directionl in which it is yinitially thrown,v and icontinuing arourui the nxed'guide' portion engages the movable-guide portion. Thereitleffects'ia variable deflection ofV the Vmovable guide por-tion dependingupon theiorce which vit 'hasf-at!` that time, and isfaccordingiy deflected` in yavvariablel directionback-toward thefpin position to engage the pins. Because of the'rvariablev -factor thus'l introduced, the game has substantial interestY and provides for considerable"development-of findividualskill in determining the proper anglefandr forcent-throw of the ballsfin order toseCure'the best results in knocking over the-pins.

While the formof apparatus-herein described constitutesa preferred embodiment ofthe inven's` Cil tion, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bowling game of the character described comprising a main alley for receiving the bowling pins at one end thereof, a starting alley substantially parallel to and located at one side of said main alley, said starting alley having a starting position at the same end as that which receives the bowling pins, means to separate said alleys at the starting end thereof, curved horizontally' extended guide means at the remote end of said alleys for receiving the bowling ball from said starting. alley and deecting the same in a horizontal plane and returning the same to said main' alley, said guide means having an initial fixed portion and final movable portion, hinge means for! adjustablyf connecting ad]l acente'nds of s'aid xedand movable' guide portions; av supporting'member for saidmovable guide portionV resting uponrthe oor of said alley and'- movable thereover with reducedf'frictional contact-for sup-- porting thefree'endof said memberinfspacedire-` lation abovethe floor of. said alley, and resilient means for yieldably. urgingsaid movable portion forwardly against-the force of saidlball andino--l viding for variable displacement thereof about saidA hinge means dependent upon the'en'ergy of motion of the ball.

2`. A bowling-game1 of the characterdescribedv comprising a main alleyv adapted to receive the bowling pins at one end-thereof, asta'rting alley substantially parallel tol and'located at one side of saidmainalley andhaving a starting position at the same end as that which receives's'aidlbowling pins, means to separatei said'- alleys at the starting end thereof, acurvedv horizontally extended guide member at the remote endfofA said alley for receiving the ball from saidstartin'g alley andy deecting and Areturning the saine to said mainalleyl to` strike the pinssaid` guide member having an initial xed portion and a nal portion movableinresponse` tov contact of the-ball,- a hinge connection between said portions 'ofI the guid'eimember, resilientmeans'for-yieldably h'olding said movable portion against the alctionof s'aidvballA providing forv variablemovement thereof` to variablyv deflect' saidb'all dependent 'Y upo'nV the energy of 'motionthereofg arid-a flexible surfacelcoveringI material extending" continuously over saidfix'ed andi movable guide portionsI` and across y said hinge connection formingY al smooth andv continuous engaging" surface for'y contact with said ball.

3. A bowling# game ofthe character'described comprising a main alley adapted to receive the bowling-pins at -o'ne` end thereof,` a-startingf alley substantially para-llelto andlocated--at one sid'of said'mainY alleyl and iliaviriga; startingiposition lat" the same end as th'atwhich receivessaid bowling pins, means toseparatev said alleys at thestarting endt-hereofj :afcurved horizbnt'all'y 'extended guide member atethe r*remote-'end 'ofr` said alley 'for re'- ceivingvthe ball from' said starting-alley anddee fleeting and returning the sameto said ma'inalley' to strike the 'pinsf saidguide member'la'ving'an initial `fixed portion' and" a` `inalpo'rtion 'movable in response tocontact lof the ball, resilient means for' yieldably holdingsaidmovable portion 'against th'e'actioni of saidrball providing fori variable movement" thereof "to lvariably'deflect saidb'all de# pendent upon the; energy of motion thereof;v andl 5 a flexible surface covering material of fabric extending continuously over said fixed and movable guide portions and adapted to contact said ball. 4. A bowling game of the character described comprising a main alley .adapted to receive the bowling pins'at one end thereof, a starting alley substantially parallel .to and located at one side f of said main alley and having a starting position at the same end as that which receives said bowling pins, means to separate said' alleys at the starting end thereof,v a curved horizontally extendedy guide member vat @the remote end of said alley for receiving the ball from said starting alleyv and deflecting and returning the same to said main alley to strike the pins, said guide member having an initial ixed portion and a final por- -tion movable in response to contact of the ball, resilient means for yieldably holding said movable portion against the action ofsaid ball providing for variable movement thereof .to variably deflect said ball dependent upon the energy of motion thereof, and means for supporting said both portions of said guide member above the level of said alleys leaving a substantial clearance therebetween and in position substantially .opposite the center of said ball.

5. A bowling game of the character described comprising a main alley adapted to receive the bowling pins at one end thereof, a starting alley substantially parallel to and located at one side of said main alley and having a starting position at the same end as that which receives said .bowling pins, means to separate said alleys at the motion thereof, and an overlying covering member spaced .above said guide members and projecting forwardly thereof with a limited overhang to normally be clear of contact with the ball throughout its engagement with said guide.

CLARENCE D. CURTIS. DON P. GRAFFLIN. 

